Saturday Week 3 of Advent (December 23rd)

What, then, will this child be? Right from his conception and birth, it was clear that John the Baptist was no ordinary individual. He was conceived of parents who were past childbearing age. His father lost the ability to speak throughout the entire period of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. And when it came the time for him to be given a name, he was given a name that was unknown even to his family. To the amazement of those who were watching, Zechariah’s tongue was suddenly loosened the moment he affirmed the child’s name as John. John was no ordinary child, and his life was not going to be ordinary either. Those gathered to rejoice over his birth were right to be seized by fear, for John was coming with a refiner’s fire to purify the sons and daughters of Israel.
John’s emergence was to be a fulfillment of a prophecy: the appearance of Elijah whose main responsibility would be the preparation of the hearts of the people for the reception of the Word of God. It was not going to be an easy task, for the hearts of the people were no longer turned turned towards the Lord. John was coming to remind them of what they loathed: walking in righteousness and fear of the Lord lest the Lord strike their land with doom. John was coming to remind the people of a fact that the people would rather forget: that the day was coming when every man and woman would answer for how they have lived their lives. As Elijah, John’s coming would usher in that period when men and women would be given an opportunity to make a choice, either for or against the Lord. Those who will make a choice for the Lord would be saved, and those who will reject the Lord will perish as did the prophets of Baal during Elijah’s time.